How does an electric toothbrush achieve a waterproof rating of IP68 through liquid silicone encapsulation technology?

We first need to understand the meaning and importance of IP68 waterproof rating. IP rating, also known as Ingress Protection Rating, is a standard defined by the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) to evaluate the dust and water resistance performance of electrical equipment. Among them, “6” represents the dustproof level, which means that the equipment completely prevents foreign objects and dust from entering; ‘8’ represents the waterproof level, indicating that the equipment will not be damaged even if it is immersed in water for a long time under a certain pressure. For everyday items like electric toothbrushes, achieving IP68 waterproof rating not only means higher durability, but also ensures the safety of users when accidentally dropping their toothbrushes into water during showering or brushing.

Characteristics and advantages of liquid silicone gel

Liquid Silicone Rubber (LSR) is a high-performance organic silicone elastomer material known for its excellent high and low temperature resistance, electrical insulation, chemical stability, and good biocompatibility. In waterproof applications, the two key characteristics of liquid silicone are particularly prominent: first, its excellent sealing performance, which can effectively isolate moisture infiltration; The second is its good flexibility and elasticity, which can maintain stable waterproof effect even in complex shapes or frequent deformations.

 

The waterproof challenge of electric toothbrushes

As a precision electronic product, electric toothbrushes integrate multiple key components such as motors, batteries, and circuit boards, which are extremely sensitive to moisture. Therefore, when designing waterproof structures, it is necessary to consider how to effectively protect these core components from moisture erosion. Traditional waterproof measures such as sealing rings and waterproof adhesives can improve waterproof performance to a certain extent, but often suffer from problems such as poor sealing, aging and cracking, making it difficult to

meet the high standard of IP68.

Application of Liquid Silicone Encapsulation Process
The liquid silicone encapsulation process is an innovative technology that has emerged to solve the above-mentioned problems. The core of this process is to directly inject liquid silicone into the gap between the outer shell and internal components of the electric toothbrush through precision injection molding equipment, forming a dense waterproof layer. This process not only requires precise mold design to ensure that the liquid silicone can evenly cover all areas that require waterproofing, but also strict control of injection temperature, pressure, and time parameters to ensure that the liquid silicone can fully cure and tightly bond with the shell, forming a seamless waterproof barrier.

The Implementation Process of Waterproof Level IP68
1. Mold design: Firstly, design a precise set of molds based on the shape and internal structure of the electric toothbrush. This mold not only needs to accurately match the shape of the electric toothbrush, but also needs to reserve injection channels and exhaust holes for liquid silicone in key areas to ensure smooth injection and uniform distribution of liquid silicone.
2. Surface treatment: Before injection molding, thoroughly clean and pre treat the shell of the electric toothbrush to remove impurities such as oil and dust, and improve the adhesion between the liquid silicone and the shell.
3. Liquid silicone injection: After heating the liquid silicone to a suitable temperature, it is injected into the mold through a high-pressure injection machine. During the injection process, liquid silicone will quickly fill all small gaps between the outer shell and internal components, forming a continuous waterproof layer.
4. Curing and demolding: After a period of curing in the mold, liquid silicone gel forms a hard waterproof layer. Subsequently, remove the solidified electric toothbrush from the mold for subsequent assembly and testing.
5. Waterproof test: To ensure that the electric toothbrush meets the IP68 waterproof rating, strict waterproof testing is required. Testing includes but is not limited to immersion testing, pressure testing, spray testing, etc., to verify its waterproof performance under various extreme conditions.
epilogue
Through the liquid silicone encapsulation process, the electric toothbrush not only successfully achieves IP68 waterproof rating, but also further enhances the durability and user experience of the product. The application of this technology not only demonstrates the precision and efficiency of modern industrial manufacturing, but also provides new ideas and solutions for waterproof design of electronic products such as electric toothbrushes.